Are Britain's pets getting fatter?

Thursday 21 October 2004 07.21 EDT
First published on Thursday 21 October 2004 07.21 EDT

Eight out of 10 vets seem to think so, according to a pet insurance company that hogged the headlines on Monday.

Researchers questioned 100 vets, and the vast majority agreed that labradors were piling on the lard, and feline companions had become, like company chairmen, a collection of fat cats. Other human-style afflictions reportedly on the rise include diabetes, arthritis, stress and depression. The file of data on Britain's pampered pets, however, may be a tad slim.

The catch is that making a fuss of Fido is not a new phenomenon. Some cats have always been spoiled and overfed, and some dogs have always been lazy enough to be jumped over by the quick brown fox. If owners were putting on weight, then the same might indeed be happening to pets. And if humans were getting fatter, perhaps because they don't get out for a walk often enough, then their four-legged friends, too, could be in danger of gaining weight.

The message hasn't changed, as far as vets are concerned. "If you have a pet dog and exercise it by going for long walks in the countryside, there are benefits for both parties," says Alistair Gibson, of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association.